Device for radiotherapy



Feb. 7, 1928.

E. SORDELL! DEVICE FOR RADIOTHERAPY Filed Oct. 50, 1924 Patented Feb. 7, 1928.

UNITED STATES i ATENT OFFICE.

ERNESTO. SORDELLI, OF BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA.

DEVICE FOR RADIOTHERAPY.

Application filed October 30, 1924-, Serial No. 746,863, and. in Argentina August 29, 1924.

This invention relates to a device for facilitating the taking of X-ray photographs of various parts of the human body.

It is an object of my invention to provide a device which will avoid painful movements of the patient when changes are made in the position of the body when taking photographs of various regions. It is a further object of my invention to provide a device which will permit quick, easy and safe operation and at the same time being inexpensive to manufacture.

With the device which I have invented, it is possible to put the patient in any desired position with relation to the horizontal and furthermore rotate the body about a horizontal axis without the least effort on the part of the patient.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated in perspective a preferred form of my device. In the drawing.

A trestle 1 supports a horizontal shaft 2 upon which shaft is disposed a platform 3. This platform is preferably constructed with a steel frame and a platform surface of wood planking. Two bushings, one only being shown, are attached to the lower side of the platform at its midpoint along the edges. These bushings cooperate with the shaft 2 to permit the platform to oscillate or move about the shaft 2 as an axis. Vertical legs 4, their upper ends being arcuate shaped, are disposed at each corner of the platform and the upper ends of the legs 4, at each end of the platform meet as shown. A pulley system 5 and 7 depends from the meeting points of the vertical legs, the lower pulleys being provided with rings through which the bar 6 passes. Gables having fastening means 8 disposed on the legs 4 as shown, connect the pulleys so that the bar 6 may be raised or lowered and fastened at any desired height.

In order to cause the movement of the platform 3 about the axis formed by the shaft 2, I make use of a worm gear, a tractor cooperating therewith, and cables connected with said tractor and platform. A threaded screw tractor 15 cooperates with the worm screw 10 so that movement of the worm screw causes a movement of the tractor. An electric motor 11, may be used as a source of power. The shaft of the motor 11 is provided with a helicoidal gear 12 which meshes with the worm screw 10 so that rotation of the gear 12 rotates the worm screw and in turn moves the tractor 15. Pulleys 18, 14, and 19 are fastened on the trestle 1 and trough-like structure 9 in order to guidethecables 16 and 17. One end of each of these cables is fastened to the movable tractor 15 the other being fastened to the extremities of the platform as indicated at 20. It will be seen that as the tractor 15 moves, this movement tends to rotate the platform 3 about the central axis 2 by virtue of the cables 16 and 17. In order to keep the cables taut, I have provided tension arms 18.

The operation of the device is clear from the foregoing description. On applying power to the gear 12, the worm 10 is caused to rotate causing a movement of the tractor 15. Because of the cable system described, movement of the tractor 15 causes the platform 3 to revolve about its axis, the tension rods described acting to keep the cables under tension at all times.

In use, the patient is suspended from the bar 6 by means of leather straps passing around the patient and around the bar. The bar 6 may be raised above the platform into a convenient position for the purpose of taking the photographs, and in which case the patient is suspended above the surface of the platform. When it is necessary to move the body to any special position in clined with the respect to the horizontal, the motor 11 is set in operation and the table tilted. A movement of the patient about a horizontal axis is accomplished by rotation of the rod 6. Foot rests, parallel to the legs 4:, may be provided at one end of the table as shown.

It is evident that my invention is not restricted to the precise structure shown herein.

I claim:

In a tilting table, a tilting means for said table comprising a long screw, a driven gear meshing with said screw and adapted to rotate said long screw in a forward and in a reverse direction, a threaded tractor through which said long screw passes, cables attached to said tractor, one of said cables being attached to one end of said tilting table, and another of said cables being attached to the other end of said tilting table.

ERNESTO SORDELLI. 

